And not just any pickup, mind you, a 1954 Chevy 5 Window that’s become a fixture on the campaign trail in Jefferson County.

“My wife Susan got it for me for my 50th birthday and I spent five years of spare time restoring and customizing it,” Tyler said, in an e-mail. “I hot rodded the original engine with Corvette parts, then added disc brakes to stop it. It runs sweet!”

The Lakewood Democrat faces Republican Rick Enstrom[5] in November in House District 23.

The pickup as a campaign tool first appeared when former Rep. Gwyn Green[6] of Golden ran for the House. Tyler said nobody drives it but himself and a race-driver buddy so he tooled about the district for Green, who paid to have her name painted on it.

“The body work is the next step of the project so a cheap paint job just keeps it covered while I work on the body piece by piece.” he said Friday. “It’s been out four days and I’m already getting a bunch of comments.”